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The Dutch order their fleet not to [B. XIII.

all the nobility and gentry of the kingdom, and the people generally weary of the taxes and impositions upon the nation for the support of their land-armies, the parliament would venture to increase those taxes and impositions proportionably to maintain a new war at sea, at so vast an expense, as could not be avoided; and therefore that they only made show of this courage to amuse and terrify them. However, at the spring, they set out a fleet stronger than of course they used to do; which made no impression upon the English; who never suspected that the Dutch durst enter into a war with them. Besides that they were confident no such counsel and resolution could be taken on a sudden, and without their having first notice of it, they having several of the States General, and more of the States of Holland, very devoted to them. And therefore they increased not their expense, but sent out their usual fleet for the guard of the coast at their season, and with no other instructions than they had been accustomed to.

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The council of the admiralty of Holland, which governed the maritime affairs, without communication with the States General, gave their instructions to the admiral Van Trump, 66 that when he "met any of the English ships of war, he should "not strike to them, nor shew them any other respect than what they received from them; "if the English expostulated the matter, they "should answer frankly, that the respect they had formerly shewed upon those encounters, was because the ships were the king's, and for the good intelligence they had with the crown; but they "had no reason to continue the same in this alter

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1652.] strike to the English.-War ensues. 33

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ation of government, except there were some stipulation between them to that purpose: and "if this answer did not satisfy, but that force was used towards them, they should defend "themselves with their utmost vigour." These instructions were very secret, and never suspected by the English commanders; who had their old instructions to oblige all foreign vessels to strike sail to them; which had never been refused by any nation.

It was about the beginning of May in the year 1652, that the Dutch fleet, consisting of above forty sail, under the command of Van Trump, rode at anchor in Dover road, being driven by a strong wind, as they pretended, from the Flanders coast, when the English fleet, under the command of Blake, of a much less number, appeared in view; upon which the Dutch weighed anchor, and put out to sea, without striking their flag; which Blake observing, caused three guns to be fired without any ball. It was then observed, that there was an express ketch came, at the very time, from Holland, on board their admiral; and it was then conceived, that he had, by that express, received more positive orders to fight; for, upon the arrival of that express, he tacked about, and bore directly towards the English fleet; and the three guns were no sooner fired, but, in contempt of the advertisement, he discharged one single gun from his poop, and hung out a red flag; and came up to the English admiral, and gave him a broadside; with which he killed many of his men, and hurt his ship. With which, though Blake was surprised, as not expect→ ing such an assault, he deferred not to give him the

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The States send ambassadors into [B. XIII. same rude salutation; and so both fleets were forthwith engaged in a very fierce encounter; which continued for the space of four hours, till the night parted them, after the loss of much blood on both sides. On the part of the Dutch, they lost two ships, whereof one was sunk, and the other taken, with both the captains, and near two hundred prisoners. On the English side there were many slain, and more wounded, but no ship lost, nor officer of name. When the morning appeared, the Dutch were gone to their coast. And thus the war was entered into, before it was suspected in England.

With what consideration soever the Dutch had embarked themselves in this sudden enterprise, it quickly appeared they had taken very ill measures of the people's affections. For the news of this conflict no sooner arrived in Holland, but there was the most general consternation, amongst all sorts of men, that can be imagined; and the States themselves were so much troubled at it, that, with marvellous expedition, they despatched two extraordinary ambassadors into England; by whom they protested, "that the late unhappy engagement be"tween the fleets of the two commonwealths had happened without their knowledge, and contrary "to the desire of the lords the States General: "that they had received the fatal tidings of so rash

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an attempt and action, with amazement and asto"nishment; and that they had immediately entered "into consultation, how they might best close this "fresh bleeding wound, and to avoid the farther effusion of Christian blood, so much desired by the enemies of both states: and therefore they

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1652.] England.—The parliament's answer. 35 "most earnestly desired them, by their mutual concurrence in religion, and by their mutual love "of liberty, that nothing might be done with passion and heat; which might widen the breach; but that they might speedily receive such an answer, that there might be no farther obstruction "to the trade of both commonwealths."

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To which this answer was presently returned to them, "that the civility which they had always shewed towards the States of the United Pro"vinces was so notorious, that nothing was more strange than the ill return they had made to "them that the extraordinary preparations which they had made, of a hundred and fifty ships, "without any apparent necessity, and the instruc"tions which had been given to their seamen, had

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administered too much cause to believe, that the 66 lords the States General of the United Provinces "had a purpose to usurp the known right which "the English have to the seas, and to destroy their fleets; which, under the protection of the Almighty, are their walls and bulwarks; that so they might be exposed to the invasion of any powerful enemy: therefore they thought them"selves obliged to endeavour, by God's assistance, "to seek reparation for the injuries and damage

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they had already received, and to prevent the "like for the future: however, they should never "be without an intention and desire, that some "effectual means might be found to establish a "good peace, union, and right understanding "between the two nations."

With this haughty answer they vigorously prosecuted their revenge, and commanded Blake pre

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Blake takes fishing busses, &c. [B. XIII. sently to sail to the northward; it being then the season of the year for the great fisheries of the Dutch upon the coasts of Scotland, and the isles of Orkney, (by the benefit whereof they drive a great part of their trade over Europe;) where he now found their multitude of fishing boats, guarded by twelve ships of war; all which, with the fish they had made ready, he brought away with him as good prize.

When Blake was sent to the north, sir George Ayscue, [being just returned from the West Indies,] was sent with another part of the fleet to the south; who, at his very going out, met with thirty sail of their merchants between Dover and Calais; a good part whereof he took or sunk; and forced the rest to run on shore upon the French coast; which is very little better than being taken. From thence he stood westward; and near Plymouth, in the middle of August, with thirty sail of men of war, he engaged the whole Dutch fleet, consisting of sixty ships of war, and thirty merchants. It was near four of the clock in the afternoon when both fleets begun to engage, so that the night quickly parted them; yet not before two of the Holland ships of war were sunk, and most of the men lost; the Dutch in that action applying themselves most to spoil the tackling and sails of the English; in which they had so good success, that the next morning they were not able to give them farther chase, till their sails and rigging could be repaired. But no day passed without the taking and bringing in many and valuable Dutch ships into the ports of England, which, having begun their voyages before any notice given to them of the war, were making

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